The presidents of Penn State, Pitt and Temple did not paint a pretty picture of how the proposed 30 percent cut in their funding would affect students.

They said the cut would likely lead to another round of tuition increases, making higher education no longer possible for some students down the road.

The presidents were speaking in front of the state House Appropriations Committee.

This was the first public hearing on higher education funding since Corbett released his budget.

Penn State looks to lose more than $60 million of its state funding.

University President Rodney Erickson fears that could threaten the ability of some students to even dream of going to Penn State and have a profound effect on the university's 19 satellite campuses.

"So this will fall disproportionately on students from lower-income families scattered across the Commonwealth, many of whom are committed, working part-time already. They are long-term residents of the Commonwealth and they will be the most hurt by all of this," Erickson said.

Temple would have to raise tuition $4,000 and Pitt would have to raise tuition $3,000 to cover the proposed funding cuts. Penn State tuition for Pennsylvania residents could increase nine percent as a result.

Pitt's chancellor said he thinks the cuts are a move to make the state-related schools private.